Lastday

Konga co-CEOs Prince Ekeh (r) and Nick Imudia By Juliet Umeh As a way of appreciating its teeming customers, Konga’s top management, during Christmas period handled customers’ deliveries themselves. INTELS empowers fresh batch of 84 women under its CSR program The process which commenced on Friday, December 13 saw the entire management of the Konga Group deliver products directly to customers. The company said the gesture was to appreciate its customers for their patronage throughout the year. The process was led by co-CEOs Prince-Nnamdi Ekeh and Nick Imudia as well as Head of Logistics, Emmanuel Ekuma. Among the locations visited were Island, Gbagada, Ikeja, Apapa, Ikotun, Ikoyi, Surulere, Ipaja, Mowe, among others. The company’s Co-CEO, Imudia said: “Our loyal customers have remained central to our many successes this year. In 2019, we had the most successful Konga Yakata, our own version of the popular Black Friday sales. This is in addition to significant growth witnessed

Uber Building By Juliet Umeh Although Christmas season is over,  festive celebration is still on, as the new year just begun today. No doubt, many people are still travelling from one place to the other to make the beginning of a new decade a memorable one. Border closure: OPS harps on importance of policy implementation With reckless and drunk driving on the rise during this time, Uber said it will like to offer riders and drivers a safety tips  when moving from one point to another. The tips include: Always check When you request a ride, keep an eye out for road hazards and no-stopping zones. Try to find somewhere safe for your driver to stop:  Use the messaging feature in the app to let your loved ones know where you are. Check your ride Remember that Uber offers a check your ride feature.  It allows riders to have a clear view of the driver’s license plate, photo and car make/model to verify it is  the right vehicle. As a double precaution, Real-Time ID Check prompts dri

Stories by Eguono Odjegba Port-Terminal M ARITIME stakeholders have blamed selfish politicking and non utilization of existing bonded terminals as cause of port congestion contrary to public perception that loss of control of trucks along the port roads and the evident gridlock as major factor militating against port operation. This is even as stakeholders have warned that the ports roads traffic situation will remain unless the federal, state and local governments muster the political will to insist on the removal of the artificial bottlenecks that has for more than six years rendered the ports roads impassable, slowed down ports operations and by extension held the national economy to ransom. READ ALSO: Cooking gas marketers raise alarm over 75% price hike (Opens in a new browser tab) Mr. Muruf Raheem, a frontline ship agent and freight forwarder traced the genesis of the problem to the 2006 ports concession, an arrangement he said was bereft of professionalism, competence and

By Juliet Umeh Five development-focused women entrepreneurs that won UK-Nigeria Tech Hub competition will be leaving for United Kingdom for African Investment Summit, this month. Equities market closes end of year positive as investors gain N112.4 bn The winners emerged from the 10 finalists at a keenly contested pitch programme in Lagos recently. The winning tech women include: an EduFinTech company, ScholarX by Damilola Emuze; a credit inclusion company, Schecluded by Ifeoma Uddoh; shulttler platform, Shuttlers Mobility by Damilola Olokesusi; a health tech, Mobihealth, by Dr. Funmi Adewara and FinTech Company, Limestart by Keturah Ovio. Country Director, UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, Honey Ogundeyi, said the summit where the winners will be leaving for will also bring 15 other most ambitious development-focused women entrepreneurs where they will gain access to world-class mentoring, have time with UK investors and expert training to help scale their company.. Ogundeyi said: “Our progra

By Juliet Umeh As part of its continuous quest to avail its customers with unmatched products and services, broadband service provider, Smile Communications, recently, introduced an innovative Voice and SMS only product dubbed eSIMVoice. Leadership and moral conscience The company disclosed that Smile eSIMVoice comes as a free downloadable application, and when activated, the consumer can enjoy 10 minutes free local calls, unlimited on-net calls and SMSs. The customers can also savour zero roaming charges, free on-net audio and video calls and the lowest call rates to any network. It advised that customers and prospects eager to enjoy its latest innovation, to simply walk into any Smile shop, kiosk or contact an authorised dealer. The service comes with varying voice plan options that will suit every need. Notable among the Voice Plan options are SmileVoice only plan for 65 minutes, which costs only N500, SmileVoice only plan for 135 minutes which goes for N1, 000 and the SmileV

Stories by Godfrey Bivbere F OLLOWING concerns raised by the maritime stakeholders over the planned disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF, the Federal Government has set up a committee to address the issues. The committee which was set up after the meeting between the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and parastatals under it,  Vanguard Maritime Report  gathered, had former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Temisan Omatseye, as chairman, while President of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, SOAN, McGoerge Onyoung, and others as members. READ ALSO: 2 suspects arrested for duping bank manager N70m in Adamawa (Opens in a new browser tab) A source close to one of the government agencies told  Vanguard Maritime Report  that there is uncertainty over the actual terms of reference of the committee. The source explained that the first information received was that the committee would work out modalities for

By Peter Egwuatu Dangote Cement Plc has commenced steps to buy back its shares in a bid to improve return on equity and shareholder value. Lagos assembly indicts Dangote trucks over damaging of roads In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday Dangote Cement said it would convene an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders for January 22, 2020, to amend its Articles of Association to enable it undertake a share buy-back of up to 10 percent of its issued shares on such terms, and conditions and at such times as the board of directors deems fit. According to the company, “The relevant shares will be repurchased out of the profits of the company and any such number of shares bought under the programme is required to be cancelled in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and the NSE rule book which will consequently lead to a reduction in issued share capital.” Chairman of the company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said the sharehol

By Rotimi Fasan HAPPY New Year Nigeria! It is my hope and prayer that this year will be the best we have so far known under the Muhammadu Buhari regime. I won’t destroy people’s properties for road construction ― Abiodun And whether those in power right now planned it to be so or not, may the year also be one of the best in the history of this country. May those in charge not take the country to a point where reversal from the brink would be impossible. The times are desperate and Nigerians can do without further aggravation of their condition. Recent happenings in our country should remind us that Nigeria belongs not only to the temporary occupiers of power, who in addition to some of them appropriating our commonwealth to themselves also wear patriotism like a personal emblem. They are not the only people who can or should speak on behalf of this country, which was perhaps why one them openly told the rest of us that whatever requests President Buhari brings before Nigerians, in

Hameed Haroon (left) and accuser Jamshed Mahmood Raza The chief executive of one of Pakistan’s most influential newspapers has denied accusations he raped an acclaimed filmmaker, in a case that has spotlighted sexual abuse targeting men and added momentum to the country’s fledgling #MeToo movement. Director Jamshed Mahmood Raza took to social media over the weekend to allege that Dawn newspaper’s Hameed Haroon raped him 13 years ago. In October, Raza first described the assault publicly on Twitter but referred to the alleged perpetrator as a “powerful person in our media world”. Haroon — who hails from one of Pakistan’s wealthiest and most influential families — issued a fierce denial in Dawn, the country’s most popular English daily, late Monday, calling the accusations “simply untrue and intentionally fabricated”. “I categorically deny the allegation of rape leveled against me,” said Haroon in a statement. Raza later slammed Haroon’s comments, saying the statement was “nothin

Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo State By Seyi Makinde MY Dear Good People of Oyo State. As we draw the curtains on 2019 and look forward with renewed expectation and hope to the New Year, I am delighted to deliver my first New Year message. Ibadan Kings: Your crowns are worthless ― Ladoja’s counsel This past year was a year of mixed blessings. We started 2019 on the campaign trail, talking to you and convincing you to believe in us and trust in our Road Map for Accelerated Development in Oyo State 2019-2023, which would serve as a blueprint for all our activities in government. You listened. And on March 9, 2019, you came out en masse and gave us your mandate. You showed, through your votes, that you have confidence in us and our ability to deliver on our promises. Since May 29, 2019, we have been delivering on those promises, in little ways and significant ways. And you have stood by us, supporting, and defending us. You can rest assured; we will never take your loyalty for granted.

Mother of Adaugo Uzoma rejoicing after her daughter’s hospital bill was paid By Dennis Agbo ENUGU- RESPITE came the ways of inhabitants of Home for the Elderly, lepers, disabled persons, the abandoned, motherless and indigent patients, when a group-Friends De Royale International Club visited their homes and hospital in different parts of Enugu to offer palliatives and made them participate in the celebration of Christmas, a commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Enugu council of Arts boss urges investment in state tourist potential The social club said its visitations was to take  pain off the very less privileged, in the spirit that the birth of Jesus Christ brought salvation to mankind over 2,000 ago. Starting with Nike Centre for the disabled, Marist Brothers Umuchigbo, where lepers, the blind and others sorts of challenged persons are quartered, Friends De Royale International Club donated food items, ranging from bags of rice, beans, tomatoes, salt, toiletries, cash d

By Prince Osuagwu New year is here and Smartphone  manufacturer, Huawei, said Nigerians can memorize  the year better, if their phones have better camera features. HP advances security in new Envy laptop It therefore, debuted with what it dubbed the most sophistecated camera in its stable the Y9s. The new device is equiped with an ultra-wide angle 48 Mega Pizel AI Tripple Camera. According  to the company, that feature enables the phone to deliver  outsanding photography for  lovers of entertainment or gaming. Perfect gift Huawei said that the device is a perfect gift for someone who loves taking photos, because the 48MP Triple AI Camera setup makes it the right candidate. Not only is taking pictures really easy, the results are so satisfying that you won’t need to take a second shot. The camera setup, consisting of a 48MP main camera, 8MP 120 degree Ultra-Wide camera and a 2MP Depth sensor, also uses powerful AI that recognizes what you are trying to take a picture of, making

Nigeria Youths By Juliet Umeh Reorganising the challenges Nigerians face trying to set aside funds to achieve capital projects, a financial business advisory and investment company, Furst Salvo Limited, has launched savings and investment mobile App that will encourage smart saving habit. Alleged N6.3bn fraud: Jang has case to answer -Judge The App which is available for download on the iOS Store and Google play store is a savings platform that helps people save money smartly while earning returns on savings. According to the company, apart from encouraging savings habit in an easy and reliable way, it will also offer users interest payment on savings of between 10 – 15 percent per annum. Marketing Director of the company, Omawumi Jeyema, said the company understands the peculiarity of the Nigerian economy which puts strain on people’s finances, thereby making it difficult for people to set aside funds to achieve future goals like buying a land, car, owning a business or toward

An Angolan court has ordered the freezing of assets held by former President Eduardo dos Santos’ daughter Isabel, state news agency Angop reported on Tuesday. Report says it is the latest high-profile case in government’s anti-corruption drive. The asset freeze followed an injunction application by the state, which is seeking to recover around 1 billion dollars of funds it believes are owed to it by Isabel dos Santos and her business associates. However, Isabel dos Santos has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. She wrote on Twitter on Monday: “I would like to leave a message of tranquility and confidence to my teams. READ ALSO:  Murdered LASU student: Ritual not culturally acceptable way of making money ― Runsewe “We will continue, every day, in every business, doing our best and fighting for what I believe in for Angola. “The road is long, the truth will prevail. United we stand stronger.” Ranked as Africa’s wealthiest woman by Forbes, she chaired state oil company, Sonangol before

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi (in white agbada) flagging off the 6.6 kilometer Ekoli-Okagwue road in Afikpo South Local Government Area of the State. By Peter Okutu Abakaliki -IT was indeed a moment to remember for the people of Edda, when Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, weekend, flagged off  the 6.6 kilometer Ekoli-Okagwue road in Afikpo South local government area of the state. 2023 : I will not support anyone that is older than me ⁠— Umahi The road construction which will be on concrete pavement, is one of the most important roads in the LGA as it connects Edda community to the fledgling commercial town of Ohafia in Abia State. South East Voice gathered that the road, without mincing words, will not only promote trade and investment but also, engender mutual cooperation and partnership  between the people of Edda and their Neighbours in Ohafia, Abia State. Flagging off the construction of roads, Governor David Umahi who acknowledged the performance of the Chairman of

By Eguono Odjegba F OLLOWING the closure of bank and Export Credit Agency, ECA, financing last week, the Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG, actualized the Final Investment Decision, FID, for its Train 7 Project, projected to increase its production by 35%; while at the same time raising its global LNG market competitiveness. The FID according to a statement released by NLNG General Manager, External Relations, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, will also allow for the expansion to raise its capacity of NLNG’s six-train plant from the extant 22 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA, in line with projected award of contracts for engineering, procurement and construction activities, coming on the heels of the closure of bank and ECA financing, and the finalization of other key supporting commercial agreements expected in early 2020. READ ALSO: NRC bows to pressure, introduces e-ticketing (Opens in a new browser tab) The statement noted that the actualisation of the Train 7 Project coincides with NL

Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei said Tuesday that “survival” was its top priority after announcing 2019 sales were expected to fall short of projections as a result of US sanctions. Huawei, a global leader in telecom networking equipment has been effectively banned by the United States from working with American firms on the grounds that it poses a national security threat -– an accusation the company has consistently denied. Chairman Eric Xu said Huawei’s sales revenue for 2019 was likely to reach 850 billion yuan (US$121 billion) — up roughly 18 percent from the previous year. Though he said “business remains solid”, the figure was lower than a previous forecast of US$125 billion. In a New Year’s message to employees, Xu said the US government was in the midst of a “strategic and long-term” campaign against the company that would create a “challenging environment for Huawei to survive and thrive”. “Survival will be our first priority” in 2020, said Xu, the current chair

A wild leopard has killed a two-year-old boy outside his home in a village in central Nepal, a local officer said on Tuesday. The boy was left alone outside his home on Monday when the animal pounced on him, said Rudra Prasad Pangeni, chief district officer of Tanahu district. “The leopard dragged him one kilometre up the hill and killed him,” he told dpa. READ ALSO:  I won’t destroy people’s properties for road construction ― Abiodun A dozen children have been found dead after animal attacks, possibly by wild leopards, in the district in the last two years, according to the officer. “A lot of people have migrated to cities. Most communities have abandoned farming. “It has caused growth of forest and shrubs, which in turn has helped expand the habitat of wild animals,” he said. Conflict between wild animals and humans has increased in recent months in Nepal, raising concerns about the safety of people living near forests and national parks. (dpa/NAN) VANGUARD The post Wild le

Harry Kupfer One of the world’s most celebrated opera directors, Germany’s Harry Kupfer, has died at the age of 84 in Berlin, his agency confirmed on Tuesday. In a career spanning 44 years, Kupfer worked at opera houses across Germany and was chief director of Berlin’s iconic Komische Oper for more than two decades. Born in 1935, Kupfer studied in Leipzig and first worked in then-communist East Germany. But he rose to fame in 1978 with a production of Richard Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” at the world-renowned Bayreuth festival. READ ALSO:  Be vigilant against menace of road accidents in 2020, FRSC urges Nigerians He took the reins at the Komische Oper three years later in 1981. A student of Komische Oper founder Walter Felsenstein, Kupfer staged works by Mozart and Wagner and oversaw two world premieres at the opera house before bowing out in 2002. He returned to Bayreuth in 1988, staging Wagner’s “Ring of the Nibelung” alongside Argentine-Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim

Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been chosen by his party to run again for the top job in 2021, having already led the central African country for a total of 35 years. During its congress in Brazzaville overnight Monday, his Congolese Party of Labour (PCT) unanimously named Sessou Nguesso, 76, as its candidate for president. His re-election in 2016 sparked violence in a country where most of the five million people live below the poverty line despite huge oil reserves. “We said the choice of Denis Sassou Nguesso is an inevitable choice,” top ally Leonidas Mottom told AFP. “It’s the choice of change in continuity, it’s the choice of stability and the choice of peace,” said Mottom, the party’s deputy leader. READ ALSO:  Tambuwal reinvigorates State Judicial, Law Reform Commission The party’s outgoing secretary general, Pierre Ngolo, said the 2,588 PCT congress participants reappointed Sassou Nguesso as head of the central committee in addition to naming him as their ca

An anti-government protester shelters with a traffic sign during a demonstration in Sha Tin district, on China’s National Day in Hong Kong, China October 1, 2019. PHOTO: Reuters Hong Kong police fired tear gas a few minutes into 2020 as pro-democracy protesters marked the New Year with midnight countdown rallies and a massive march planned for January 1. The city has been battered by more than six months of unrest with marches attended by millions, as well as confrontations in which police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets — and protesters have responded with petrol bombs. Before midnight on Tuesday, thousands of protesters gathered across the financial hub, including along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot Lan Kwai Fong. Protesters at the harbourfront counted down chanting “Ten! Nine! Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now!” as they lit up their phones in a sea of lights. Smaller crowds of protesters in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades, be

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes the polarising figure of Mesut Ozil can be key in resurrecting the club’s season, but the German star cannot do it on his own. Ozil, 31, who was recently tipped to be heading for the exit door at the Emirates, was accorded a standing ovation on Sunday by fans despite the 2-1 loss to Chelsea. “Mesut was very effective against Chelsea. I’m hoping he can sustain that level every three or four days,” said Arteta whose side welcome Manchester United on Wednesday. “His numbers physically have improved so much. And he’s willing, that’s what I can tell you. He’s been showing it in training. The structure has to help him to be able to take everything he has inside. ALSO READ:  Emery names one Arsenal player that didn’t say goodbye “On his own he cannot do it, he needs the collective and the structure around him and his team-mates. “There’s only one or two players in the world who can do it on their own. He needs help.” Arsenal go into the New Year’s Da

Iran foreign ministry spokesman, Abbas Mousavi. PHOTO: IRNA Iran hit out Tuesday at the “audacity” of United States to blame it for violent anti-US demonstrations in Iraq, warning the United States to review its policies in the region. “The surprising audacity of American officials is so much that after killing at least 25… and violating the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, that now… they attribute the Iraqi people’s protest against their cruel acts to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi. His statement came after US President Donald Trump accused Iran of killing an American civilian contractor and “orchestrating” the storming of the US embassy in Baghdad earlier on Tuesday. Mousavi said the claim was an insult to the people of Iraq. ALSO READ:  US strikes in Iraq kill 25 fighters, says Iran-backed militia “How and based on what logic do you expect the nation of Iraq to be silent in the face of all these atrocities?” he as

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State. It was a harvest of endorsements in Benin City, the Edo State Capital as men, women and youths drawn from the various wards in Oredo Local Government Area converged under the auspices of the Insured Good People (IGP), to endorse the second term bid of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. Speaking at the weekend during an end-of-year rally for the governor, the elated residents, among other notable developmental achievements by the Godwin Obaseki–led administration in their locality, identified the numerous road projects and reforms, which have positively affected the people, as reason for their support. ALSO READ:  Edo  Crisis: Lacklustre performance is the bane of Obaseki, not Oshiomhole — Hon Iriase A spokesperson for the women, Mrs. Osarugue Pat, said unlike some of his predecessors, Governor Obaseki has remained a voice of the voiceless women in Edo State, constructing and rehabilitating dilapidated roads in the state, while ensuri